Lot 241: 1964 Alfa Romeo Giulia TI Super

Alfa Romeo launched a new small saloon in 1962, the Giulia. The car came in both "TI" and "Super" versions. An all aluminium twin-cam 1570cc engine was used in both models with power ranging from 92bhp to 102bhp depending on specification in road form. All Giulia models came with coil spring suspension and later models boasted a five-speed gearbox. The Super version also had twin, twin-choke Weber carburettors. Infamously satirised as the beleaguered Italian Police car in the iconic '60s petrolheads movie 'The Italian Job', Alfa Romeo's boxy Giulia Super was so, so much a better car than that portrayed in this pro-British caper. Surprisingly armed with a better coefficient of drag than that of its glamorous sister the GTA (and for that matter - Porsche's 911!), this perceived Ugly Duckling won over doubters on pace rather than grace. Sporting a longer wheelbase than the GT & GTA gave the Giulia Super more predictability in high-speed corners and, from the start, this model excelled as a more than competent all-rounder in competition. To illustrate the exclusivity of the Super TI in comparison to its more mundane brethren, the price tag on the Super TI was a hefty 2,400,000 Lire, nearly 1,000,000 Lire more than the Giulia TI!Chassis AR 595488 was first delivered to the famous French advertising poster artist Raymond Savignac in Paris, who sold the car on to Monsieur Jean Cauvet of Paris, who then had the engine upgraded to produce a healthy 145 to 148 bhp by the Alfa Romeo dealers "Modern - Garage" of Clion-sur-Indre. Monsieur Cauvet kept the car until 1999, when it changed hands to its current registered owner.Although it has been modified for racing including a rollcage and racing harnesses, it most importantly still retains the original and very rare Zagato-style front seats, which are in very good order. A most competitive Alfa Romeo, with one owner for 33 years, this Super TI is sure to be accepted for a multitude of historic events. Offered with French registration papers, various documentation including correspondence form "Modern - Garage" and the original French-issued factory manual. Rare as hens' teeth.